Letters from Fred and George were irritatingly vague that summer. The only assurance they cared to give was that they would see Hermione at school in September.
Hermione suspected they were in trouble for not telling Mrs Weasley's Harry's true identity and tried not to lose her temper.
The media storm over Harry died down by the end of July and was replaced with Ministry sponsored coverage of the upcoming World Cup. And, as predicted, the enquiry into Amelia's actions crumpled as the Wizengamot reluctantly ruled she hadn't acted outside the law. The move to remove her from her office similarly failed under the twenty percent drop in crime since she'd taken the post.
Still Harry, Susan and Hermione spent much of that summer alone. Remus dedicated most of his time to searching the library at Grimauld Place. He got around taking Hermione with him by almost never leaving the place. The werewolf hadn't forgiven himself for chasing after them at the end of term and wouldn't talk to anyone. Sirius, despite his claims to not blame Harry, had buried himself in the company's next performance of "Much 'Ado About Nothing" which was due to premier next week. Apparently the director was still in shock from seeing him around so much.
As for Amelia, she was busy arranging the security measures for the World Cup and had taken to sleeping at the office. All of which would have been made much easier had Bertha Jenkins not gone missing.
Minerva was busy at Hogwarts with work she wouldn't talk about and only sent the briefest of letters.
So while their family fell apart around their ears the only adult the three teenagers had any regular contact with was Tonks. As a result of which their summer consisted mainly of pick-up games of Quidditch, exploding snap tournaments and Tonks' increasingly lewd jokes about the Twins.
Three days before they were due to leave for the World Cup Hermione and Susan were woken by a bleary eyed Tonks and a disgustingly chipper Amelia, who dragged them out to muggle York.
"Dress shopping." Amelia trilled.
The girls exchanged wary glances, both vividly remembering their bridesmaid dresses.
"Why?" They asked cautiously.
Amelia smirked.
"Can't tell you." She sing songed, shepherding them into the nearest dress shop. "Besides I thought it would be nice for us to spend some time together. Just us girls."
Tonks groaned loudly, earning herself a smack around the head from her boss.
"Constant vigilance, Auror Tonks." Amelia barked, heading for the nearest rack of taffeta nightmares.
"Oh yeah." The pink haired witch mumbled. "Merlin forbid we get attacked by coat hangers."
The extended Black family arrived at the camp site four days before the match in a generally bad mood. Hermione because the Twins had completely halted all communication and the only thing she could get through the bond was a general sense of concentration. Remus and Sirius because they were both sleep deprived and hung over and Amelia had forced them-somewhat vindictively- into the noon day sun.
Harry stopped dead in the middle of the camp site and Sirius walked straight into him.
"Damn it Harry..." Sirius frowned and moved in front of the boy to stare at his face. "Remus, come look at this."
Remus strode over, shaking out his threadbare jacket.
"Oh." He said staring at Harry who was still unresponsive.
"What?" Hermione asked curiously.
Sirius guffawed with laughter, clutching at his knees for support.
"We know that look."
"Know it?" Remus snorted. "We lived with the look for nearly eight years."
"It's the look James got when Lily walked past. Every damn time. So whose the lucky girl, Prongslet?"
Harry blinked slightly.
"What?"
Hermione pointed to a nearby fir tree. Hanging upside down from one of the branches and wearing a brown pinstriped suit and trainers, was Luna Lovegood.
Sirius stared.
"Really, Harry?"
Harry stamped on his foot, which would probably have been more effective if he wasn't wearing sand shoes.
"I love her!" He yelled passionately, uncaring of his audience.
"You've barely spoken to her." Hermione pointed out sensibly, tugging them of them further away so as not to cause a scene.
"That doesn't matter." He grumbled stubbornly.
By this point Sirius and Remus had collapsed into heaps on the ground, laughing their heads off.
"It's JAMES all over again!" Sirius hiccuped and wiped tears away from his eyes.
Hermione was going to fetch water when she ran into them.
"Granger!" Draco snarled, evidently remembering his broken nose. His father rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Won't you introduce us, Draco?"
Draco scowled, so Hermione saved him the horror of having to say her name.
"Hermione Granger."
"Lucius Malfoy. Charmed, I'm sure." He smirked. "Tell me, what exactly are you doing here? I was under the impression muggles couldn't buy tickets."
Hermione clenched her fist around the kettle.
"I have been staying with Lord Black and Lady Bones this summer. They invited me along."
Lucius gave an imperious sniff.
"And they've got you fetching the water. How...appropriate. Come along, Draco."
"Mudblood." The blonde boy muttered as he passed.
"Inbred." She returned.
The tent had come as something of a surprise to Hermione, but Sirius' inability to follow the rules didn't. At least they didn't have peacocks tethered outside. Their tent had two floors, enough bedrooms that Hermione only had to share with Susan and a kitchen which was being manned (or elved) by Filly. According to Remus, the last thing they wanted was Amelia or Sirius in the kitchen and there was no way he was cooking for six people.
The first three days passed quite happily. As the fields filled up with families, the place got busier and busier. Hermione and Luna took to walking the long rows of tents, occasionally stopping to talk to those they knew and laugh at those wizards who hadn't quite caught on to the idea of muggle dressing. At least Luna's outfits fit the criteria, although Hermione wasn't quite sure where she'd managed to find a shirt emblazoned with the Union Flag. Or the three-meter long scarf, for that matter.
On the day of the Cup Hermione spotted a flash of something impossible.
"Come on." She said, towing Luna, who was staring at the treetops.
Hermione ducked into the crowd, bypassed the man selling Omniscopes and tapped the red-haired man on the shoulder.
He turned and frowned down at her, looking very tanned and somewhat scarred.
"Hello." She said breezily. "I don't suppose you're a Weasley, are you?"
The man nodded and stuck out his hand.
"Charlie Weasley." He winked. "Pleasure."
Hermione shrugged and shook it.
"You're Fred and George's big brother?" She asked.
He rolled his eyes.
"That depends on what they've done now."
"Nothing." Luna chimed in, now watching a man who'd tied a marrow to his head. "But then neither has she. It's entirely the problem."
"Hello Luna." He greeted with the sort of affection reserved for old friends of one's little sisters.
Charlie turned back to Hermione.
"Tell you what? Come with me and I'll take you to our tent. You can surprise them. "
Hermione grinned maliciously and nodded.
The Weasleys' tent was small and unadorned, at least on the outside. A balding man was sitting outside, playing with a fire and looking like he was having the time of his life. Ron was sitting next to him, along with Bill who Hermione hadn't seen since the wedding.
"Who's this then?" The man with the matches asked. "Afternoon Luna."
Luna doffed her fedora.
"That's Hermione," Ron said brashly. "She's..."
Whatever it was Ron was going to say, it was lost in the cacophony of a pair of sixteen-year-olds throwing themselves out of a tent.
"TWIST!" Fred shouted, lifting her off the ground.
"AMAZON!" George yelled, snatching her from Fred to twirl her around.
"BOYS!" pleaded Mr Weasley, as Fred knocked two chairs over.
Hermione didn't care what anyone was yelling. She had missed them and actually being near them again was like having a heavy weight removed from her back.
"Hello." She whispered into George's shoulder.
"Hi." They murmured.
There was a round of throat-clearing from the three men and Fred and George dropped her back onto her feet, all three blushing deeply.
"So you're that Hermione." The man with the matches said, beaming. "I'm Arthur. Their father."
The Twins glowered at him.
"We're going for a walk." Fred decided.
Hermione smiled at Luna.
"You're welcome to join us."
Luna laughed.
"No I'm not. But thank you for pretending."
Before Hermione could offer her assurances that she was wanted, Fred and George wrapped their arms around her shoulders and steered her away.
"Don't do anything Percy wouldn't do!" Charlie called after them.
Charlie looked at Bill in amazement.
"That's the girl they've been going on about all summer?" He asked in amazement.
Bill nodded and frowned.
"Ron, do they hang around a lot together at school?"
The youngest Weasley son shrugged.
"Yeah. I suppose. The three of them and Harry. But especially Hermione. They've been friends since we were in first year."
"Tiny thing." Arthur mused, wandering into the tent.
"They're mates," Luna told him seriously.
Charlie stared down at her, amused.
"Like dragons?"
She shrugged.
"If you must. Excuse me, Chichi." Luna strode off leaving the bemused Weasley clan behind her.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" Hermione asked quietly. The Twins shrugged, linking hands with her.
"We wanted to surprise you." Fred murmured, starting through a gap between two tents.
"Mum wanted us to invite you..." George added, falling into line behind her. "But we figured you'd be going with Harry. Mum's been going spare about that, though."
"The whole Potter business. Ginny was worse." Fred grimaced, dodging a large wizard wearing a floral dress. "She's completely mad about Harry Potter. Mum was always telling her those stories about him when she was younger."
"Badgered us for details constantly." George laughed. "Asked Ron to steal one of his shirts for her."
"Where are we going?" Hermione asked suddenly.
They paused.
"Not sure really," George said. "Where's your tent?"
Hermione sighed and led them towards the ostentatious Black residence.
"Casa del Noir." She murmured, pushing through the flap. Fred and George glanced at her in confusion.
"Its Spanish." She explained, calling out for Filly. "Is anyone home?" she asked carefully.
The elf shook her head.
"They has all gone out for the afternoon. Will you be needing anything, mistress?"
Hermione smiled.
"No. Thank you, Filly."
They collapsed onto the nearest sofa, unconsciously curling in on each other. Hermione rested her head on Fred's shoulder and he sighed, fluffing her curls.
"So what have you two really been up to?"
They launched into a lengthy explanation of their expanding stock list, trick wands, making a bet with Ludo Bagman, sending Percy dragon dung, and the argument they'd had with their mother earlier that day.
"You should have seen her..." George moaned, eyes closed, tugging her a bit closer.
"A whole summers worth of stock in the bin," Fred added.
Hermione laughed.
"At least she didn't search your rooms."
Both Twins stilled.
"Did you remember to hide the box?" They asked in unison.
"Nimue's frilly..." George trailed off, clenching his jaw.
"So how's your summer been?"
Hermione shrugged.
"Quiet. We spent a lot of time with Tonks."
"The witch with the cool hair?"
"Mmmm." Hermione tugged on her pendant. "Everyone's been...depressed."
"Can't blame them." George linked his fingers around her wrist. "Dad was saying he felt sorry for Amelia. Apparently the Ministry has been a riot this summer."
Hermione snorted.
"What time does that match start?"
"Not for another four hours."
Hermione settled down between her twins and nodded.
"All right."
"I can't believe we won!" Fred crowed, wide-eyed as he walked back to the campsite.
"It was...there aren't words." Harry agreed looking the happiest he had all summer. Hermione chuckled fondly, smiling contently. The match had been amazing.
"Tell you what, Arthur," Sirius said, slapping the older man on the back. "Would it be okay if the Twins came and spent the night in our tent?" Hermione's cheeks went pink and Fred and George got the expression that meant they were listening intently. "They can bunk with Harry for the night. It'll keep them all out of trouble."
This time even the Twins blushed.
"I'm going to kill him." Hermione told Amelia quietly. The older witch smacked the back of Sirius' head with her hand and the raven-haired wizard grinned unrepentantly. Remus just smiled faintly.
"I'm sure that'll be fine. I can pick the boys up in the morning?"
Sirius nodded and Arthur led the rest of his children away amid Ron's protests that this "wasn't fair." and Ginny's worrying staring after Harry.
"Get up!"
Hermione blinked up at Amelia, who moved across to wake Susan.
"The campsite is under attack. Death Eaters." Hermione frowned, swallowing back the fear that rose and followed her Aunt down to the main sitting room, where they were joined by the boys. "Fred and George, I'm putting you two in charge. Keep them safe and don't lose Harry. The last thing we need is them getting their hands on him."
Sirius darted back into the tent.
"There's no time." He barked. "They've reached us. FILLY!"
The House Elf appeared with a crack, looking terrified by the tone in Sirius' voice. "Take them to the manor and lock the wards."
"We can help." Hermione protested.
"No, you can't." Sirius hissed. "We're going to do what we can. Just get out of here."
Filly grabbed Fred's hand and snapped out them away.
The group staggered onto the floor of Potter Manor.
"What do we do now?" Susan asked, looking scared. Harry wrapped an arm around her shoulders and sighed. Fred and George were pale.
"Our family..."
"They're still there."
"Filly...Can you go back and get the Weasley's?" Hermione asked, desperate to help her worried Twins.
Filly shook, clutching at her clothes.
"I is sorry, misses. But the wards are closed. Master's orders."
"So we can't leave then...can we Floo?"
Harry nodded.
"If your house is on the main system, you're welcome to send a message. Travelling's out though."
The Twins stumbled off to the nearest fireplace, presumable to send word to their mother.
"What do we do now?" Hermione asked, feeling useless. Her family were out there fighting for their lives and she was stuck here. Helpless.
Harry shrugged.
"We wait."
None of them slept that night.
Remus sent a patronus at around seven, a large silver wolf loping into the room. All it told them was that they, and the Weasleys', were safe. It wasn't until almost noon when the wards unlocked and Sirius and Remus stumbled in from outside.
"Hi."
Sirius collapsed face-first onto the nearest sofa, Remus sinking into a heap on the floor.
"What happened!" Harry demanded.
"Death Eaters." Sirius mumbled.
"We reckon it was all the excitement. They felt like celebrating." Remus sighed. "Amelia's clearing it up. She won't be home for a while. Why are Fred and George here?"
"I sent 'em here." Sirius looked up and frowned. "Why are you all in your pyjamas?"
"We didn't go to bed." Hermione handed Sirius a large mug of coffee from the tray Filly had just brought in. He accepted it gratefully, breathing in the steam. "And they stayed with us last night, remember?"
"Oh." Remus sighed again.
"Are our family okay?" The Twins demanded.
"Arthur is fine. One of your brothers took care of Ron and...Ginny? The rest stayed to help. We'll take you home as soon as we can."
The Twins nodded reluctantly, linking their hands with Hermione's. She could feel the worry through their bond. It was acidic and clinging. She hated it.
"Introducing Professor Moody..."
Harry frowned, drawing her attention away from the Headmaster.
"He was Amelia's predecessor." He murmured. "Used to come by the house when I was a kid. Paranoid bastard though."
"Mr Potter." Moody barked. "Nice to finally meet you."
"It's Black," Harry replied sharply. He'd been fielding questions all day about being "The Chosen One" and it had rather affected his temper.
From several pairs over Hermione could see he looked visibly uneasy.
"What's wrong?" She asked the second they got out of there.
"Moody's met me before." He frowned. "How come he doesn't remember me?"
"Maybe it an imposter." She suggested, ducking past a group of twittering Ravenclaws.
Harry snorted.
"No one could get the jump on Moody."
"Hmmm. Perhaps he really is mad then. Either way..."
"Don't trust him." Harry mumbled.
Hermione wasn't talking to the Twins and neither of them could work out why. They had tried as well, spending several classes trying to figure out what they could have done to anger their bond mate.
She stormed past them, nose buried in a book. Suits of armour jumped out of her way, fearful of her wrath.
"Oh, no you don't." George whispered and snagged an arm around her waist, pulling her back into the secret passageway. Fred closed the portrait behind them and sealed the three in darkness.
"Let me go, George." She snarled, pulling away from his chest. He let her go, watching her cautiously.
George scowled.
"How'd you know it was me?" he complained.
Fred lit his wand and she glared up at them in the dim wandlight.
"I always know when it's you." She sighed. "Partly because you two are the only ones stupid enough to try that." George snatched the wand she'd been pulling from her pocket away and held it teasingly out of her reach.
"Why have you been avoiding us?" Fred demanded.
Hermione gave him a mulish expression and didn't answer.
"Don't make us tickle you."
She gritted her teeth.
"Why did you try to enter?" She asked at last.
"The Tournament?" Fred stared at his brother in confusion. "That's what this is all about?"
"It was a bit of fun," George answered carefully, sensing how angry she was.
"And if you'd gotten in? If you'd managed to circumvent the age line?" She bit out.
"We'd have competed?"
She snarled at them, backing away as they stepped towards her.
"You never think! Do you? It's not something that's funny," She hissed. "People have died in this competition. Died! And I..." She drew in a shuddering breath. "I can't lose you too. Let me go!" She added grumpily.
Fred realised that between the two of them they'd pinned her against the wall. Neither Twin moved back.
"We're sorry."
"We didn't mean to worry you."
She scoffed.
"But it's perfectly safe..."
"NO!" She snapped, drawing herself up to her full height, which still wasn't very tall. "It's not. Dumbledore isn't infallible and someone is going to get hurt!"
"Twist..." George pleaded.
"Don't." She shoved back at them with her magic and they hit the opposite wall of the passageway. She collected her fallen book and the wand George had dropped and headed for the portrait. "Just don't."
Fred and George would have been relieved the champions were drawn that night, had it not been for the fourth.
"Binding magical contract?" She repeated.
Harry nodded woefully.
"Binding magical contract?" She hissed. Several window panes shattered. "BINDING MAGICAL CONTRACT?"
Harry flinched. He'd never seen Hermione quite this angry before and he certainly never wanted to again.
"Don't you think you're overreacting?" He asked, desperate to calm her down.
She glared at him.
"Harry, Dumbledore knows you didn't put your name in the Goblet of Fire. He knows someone is setting you up for heaven knows what and as far as I'm concerned he's lining you up for the slaughter. So no. I'm not overreacting." She sighed. "I think you vastly underestimate how much I care for you."
Susan made a sound of agreement, twisting her fingers together. Both his sisters were worried about him. Hermione reached out and snagged his wrist, dragging him from the disused classroom. The Twins and Susan got up to follow, faces still pale.
"Where are we going?" He asked jogging to keep up with her. Hermione flicked her braid over one shoulder and kept marching.
"To owl Sirius." She bit out.
At lunchtime, there was a commotion in the Entrance Hall. Harry and Hermione just happened to be passing when the large wooden doors burst open, revealing a crowd of people.
"I'm so embarrassed." Harry muttered dramatically, hiding his head in her shoulder.
The group was headed by Sirius, wearing dark robes and an expression which was serious enough to make the nearest group of Durmstrang students back out of the way. He was flanked by Remus, looking equally furious and Amelia who wore full Auror battle armour and whose blond hair streamed behind her, sparking occasionally. Following on behind were three women, two of which Hermione didn't recognise and one of which was Tonks.
"Who're they?" Hermione whispered as McGonagall darted forward to intercept them.
"The tall woman on the right of Tonks, with the brown hair is Andromeda. She's Sirius' cousin and Tonk's mum."
"And the other?" she asked, pointing at the very pale blond woman, who looked like she wanted to be anywhere other than there, but was managing to look irritatedly graceful none the less. Draco, who'd been lurking nearby, was eyeing her with something akin to horror.
Harry snorted in disgust.
"That's Narcissa, Andy's sister. Sirius said she used to be all right until she married Malfoy."
"She's Draco's mum?" Hermione asked amazed.
He nodded grimly.
"Normally she won't have anything to do with us. Sirius must have called a House Meeting. She's magically obligated to be here, until such time as Sirius disowns her. Don't know why he never has."
Minerva began to lead the group across the hall.
"It's a show of solidarity." Harry whispered. "He's brought the whole House out to show he's not kidding."
"Your family is mad."
Harry laughed darkly.
"Our family." He corrected. "If I'm Sirius' son by blood, then you are his daughter by magic."
"By piece of paper." She corrected.
"By everything bar genetics."
"What do you mean?"
He stared at her.
"The contract you signed. Both your parents are now purebloods from very old houses. They claimed you, well McGonagall did, a Heir apparent. The claim needed to be irrefutable in cases of succession so the magic makes it so. By law and...well magic, you are the pureblood daughter of Sirius Black and Minerva McGonagall."
"Harry!" Sirius barked, finally spotting him.
"Gotta go."
"Could they get you out off it?"
Harry shook his head and collapsed on to the nearest squashy armchair.
"There's nothing they could do. Dumbledore completely refused to help. Sirius is...very angry."
Hermione nodded slowly.
"Then we'd better start training you up, hadn't we?"
"Honestly! There you are. We've been looking for you for ages!" Harry blinked as the door to the broom cupboard swung open and Hermione reached in and grabbed him. "Excuse us." She hissed venomously to the reporter and tugged him out. She shut the door behind them. "Colloportus!"
"Thank you!" Harry grinned as they walked off. "You do know you've locked her in there right?"
Hermione frowned.
"Have I? I thought I was just complying with school rules. All supply cupboards should be locked at all times to prevent thefts."
"How did you know where I was?"
"Colin." She said grimly. "He hung around for a bit and when he saw you being dragged off, he ran to find someone. You're lucky it wasn't Susan he got."
Harry shuddered. Susan's protective traits could be terrifying.
"Let's just get out of here."
"I think I'm going to be sick," Hermione whispered.
"You think you're going to be sick?" Harry asked incredulously. "I'm the one facing a bloody dragon."
"Sorry." She mumbled, walking him down to the champions' tent. "It'll be okay. You've learnt the charms and everything should go fine."
"Who are you trying to convince?"
"Anyone who'll listen."
"Please, be all right." She begged, her nails digging into her face. They'd been practising summoning charms for ages, but even so Harry only really began to get it right last night...there was no guarantee...
Neville cheered as the Firebolt soared overhead and into Harry's waiting hand. Screaming herself hoarse, Hermione watched her brother dodge jets of dragon fire, sometimes with only millimetres to spare. Fred and George were holding tight to her hands, both of them watching in a sort of morbid horror.
"Look at that!" Bagman yelled. "Will you look at that. Our youngest champion is quickest to get his egg." Hermione stopped listening at that point and threw herself at Fred. She hugged him tightly and kissed him on the cheek before she did the same to George. Cheering loudly, she watched as the Horntail was subdued by the dragon keepers.
If she had been paying more attention to her bondmates, she would have noticed that neither twin seemed to be capable of speech at the time. Minerva pointed it out to me, through no small amount of giggling.
Rarely in all my years as a teacher have I seen the student population so unsettled. Hogwarts, by tradition, didn't have dances or other school events. The Founders felt that is distracted from the true nature of the school and produced unnecessary social tension between the students. They were, of course, correct. Students became distracted, classes were easily sidetracked...in short, the student population almost ceased to function. Almost.
"So who are you going to ball with?" Susan asked, dropping into the free chair.
"What ball?" Hermione asked distractedly, staring at her Runes translation.
Susan's eyes widened.
"The Yule Ball. The social event of the year. Hermione, do you live under a rock all the time?" She slapped her hand down in the centre of her parchment. "Are you even listening to me?"
"Unfortunately."
Hermione began to write around the hand, leaving ink smudges on Susan's fingers. Susan sighed.
"I wish someone had told me that having a sister would be such hard work." She said conversationally to Luna, who was watching them with wide eyes and batting at something neither of them could see.
"I was going to go with Luna," Hermione said eventually. "We haven't got dates. Who're you going with?"
"McMillian. What do you mean? Of course Luna's got a date. She's going with Harry."
"Not she's not," Luna muttered faintly.
"He hasn't asked her." Hermione provided helpfully. "I think that dragon must have hurt him more than he realised."
Susan sighed.
"And no ones asked you? Not even the Twins?"
"Boys aren't interested in me and why would they ask me?"
"Victor Krum seems interested."
Hermione and Susan stared at the blond girl.
"What are you talking about?"
Luna pointed and Hermione twisted in her seat just in time to see a burly Bulgarian seeker duck behind a bookcase.
"He was reading the same book you were reading yesterday."
"It's an interesting book." Hermione defended, cheeks slightly pink.
"Right. Because everyone is interested in the Treaties of the Fae Courts from the seventh century." Susan rolled her eyes.
"He's big enough not to be scared away." She whispered to Luna.
"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked, frowning as a curl escaped her braid and hung in front of her eyes, the tip brushing against the wet ink on her parchment.
"Don't you know?" The Hufflepuff asked cautiously.
"Evidently not."
The two girls exchanged a knowing look which almost caused her to snap her quill.
"What!"
"Well, about Fred and George."
"What about them?"
"You have noticed how possessive they are of you? Haven't you?"
Hermione gave her a disbelieving stare.
"Look, any time a boy shows the slightest bit of interest in you, those two scare the hell out of them. Why do you think Harry and Neville are the only two boys who'll talk to you?"
"You're insane." Hermione decided.
"And you're in denial." Susan countered. "Still Victor Krum is never going to talk to you if we're here. Come on, Luna."
"Jealousy is often attributed to Finklestein's." Luna murmured gathering her books. "Perhaps you'd better feed them some grapefruit. That should clear the infection."
Hermione rolled her eyes and went back to her homework.
"Hey Hermione?"
Hermione held up one finger to indicate that they should wait and finished the sentence she was writing.
"Yes?" She asked, looking up.
Angelina and Katie smiled nervously at her and sat in Luna and Susan's recently vacated chairs.
"What?" She asked eventually when the worried looks started to get old.
"We wanted to talk to you about something." Katie chewed her lip, gesturing for Angelina to continue.
"You see, Fred and George asked us to the Yule Ball and we wanted to make sure it was okay with you before we said yes."
Hermione stared at them.
"Why would I care?"
"Well, you're their girlfriend and..."
"What?"
"You're their girlfriend," Angelina repeated as though she was slow. "And even though you're not going we still thought we should check that you don't mind us going with them. As friends." She clarified, misreading the fury building in Hermione's eyes.
Hermione drew in a deep breath and let it out very slowly, causing Katie to wince.
"Who told you I was their girlfriend?" She asked through gritted teeth.
The two chasers exchanged a look.
"Well, no one really. It was just really obvious. Were you trying to keep it a secret?" Angelina frowned. "How come you're not going to the dance anyway?"
"First of all..." Hermione said with deceptive control. "I am going. Second of all...I AM NOT DATING FRED AND GEORGE!"
Several heads whipped around, including one strangely relieved looking Victor Krum. Hermione mouthed an apology to Madam Pince who was glaring at her and turned back to the sixth years.
"So you're okay with us saying yes?" Katie ventured.
"Yes." Hermione ground out.
"Well, we'll just go tell them then..." Angelina got to her feet staring at the younger girl. "Are you sure you don't mind?"
Hermione stared down at her homework.
"Who they date is of no concern of mine." She said, dipping her quill into her inkwell with slightly more force than was probably necessary. She was grateful that neither girl mentioned it.
"May I sit here?"
Hermione wondered idly if someone had put a high powered Notice-Me charm on her that morning. At least it wasn't Susan coming back for the umpteenth time to quiz her about the Ball.
"Feel free." She murmured, not looking up.
She worked in silence for a while until she became aware that, whoever it was, wasn't actually turning the pages of the book in front of him. She glanced up through her hair and saw, for the second time that afternoon, Victor Krum turn pink.
"Are you following me?" She demanded.
The seeker shook his head.
"I vas...reading." He held up the book as proof. Hermione glance at the title and saw, with some amusement, that it was indeed the same copy she had been perusing yesterday.
"Enjoying it?" She inquired, setting her quill down.
"Ya."
Considering it was an incredibly dry tome about historical laws, Hermione rather doubted it.
"Vhat is your name?" Victor asked.
"Hermione Granger."
She held out a hand and almost jumped out of her skin when he raised it to his lips and kissed it.
"I am Victor Krum..."
"I know." She smiled, cheeks slightly pink. "Everyone knows."
"But you are da first, I think, not to care?"
She cocked her head to the side.
"Perhaps."
He nodded slowly.
"We haf met before? Haf we not?"
"The Top Box." Hermione nodded. "You came up there when you finished the match. You are a very good player."
Victor scowled slightly.
"I do my best. Those twins...they are not yours?"
Hermione's eyes narrowed.
"If one more person asks me that today..." She growled.
"I just vanted to check." He assured her. Hermione noticed that he still hadn't let go of her hand and whilst the sensation wasn't unpleasant, it was mildly unnerving. "It is impolite to ask a vitch vho is already taken."
She stared at him.
"Well I'm...not taken." She replied faintly.
"Vould you like to attend da Ball with me?" He asked gruffly, cheeks darkening again.
"You hardly know me." She pointed out.
"You are the only girl who has not fainted vhen I talk to her." He stated gruffly. "I vould like to take a pretty girl to ze ball. Not a fan."
"So you're settling for me?" Hermione asked slowly.
Victor frowned for a moment before getting to his feet.
"Vould you like to take a valk? Around the lake?"
Hermione stared at her homework and realised that she no longer cared.
"Might as well." She said eventually, packing up her books.
Surprisingly Victor Krum turned out to be fairly good company. They spent most of the remaining afternoon walking around the grounds, discussing history and the differences between Bulgaria and Britain. So when dinner time came Hermione was in a rather good mood and had quite forgotten that she was mad at the Twins.
"Er...Hermione?"
She glanced up from her cauliflower cheese and stared at the quite determined expression of Ron Weasley.
"Yes?" She asked curiously.
"Listen, you're a girl."
"Am I?" Hermione yelped and stared at him. "Oh, thank you for telling me. I can't believe I hadn't noticed in the last fifteen years."
"You're welcome."
How could someone who'd lived with Fred and George for so long be so unaware of sarcasm?
"Anyway, you're a girl and I need a date for the Yule Ball. I figured no one would go with you so you were probably free. So how about it?"
"I'm sorry?" She said in amazement. "What do you mean no one will go with me?"
"Well, you're not that pretty are you. I could do worse, I suppose. Eloise Midgeon for example." Ron beamed at her. "So will you go with me?"
Hermione's eyes were glacially cold and across the table, Harry winced.
"No. I already have a date. Besides I wouldn't go anywhere with you if you were the last stinking human on the planet."
Ron rolled his eyes.
"Look you don't need to make up a date just because Fred and George won't go with you. Honestly, it'll look a bit pathetic, won't it? They've both got dates and you'll be all on your own."
Hermione reached for the first thing that came to hand, which happened to be a jug of pumpkin juice and tipped it over his head.
"Leave me alone." She hissed, raising her wand. "Before I decide to find out if morons are flammable."
Luckily for Ron, Seamus Finnegan tugged him away before she could test her theory.
"And on the subject of idiot boys..." She hissed, turning to Harry. "Why haven't you asked Luna yet?"
Harry went pale.
"Well...I...It's complicated.
"Then uncomplicate it. She thinks you don't care and if you don't ask her soon I'm going to find some tall, dark and handsome Bulgarian to sweep her off her feet. Got it?"
"Fine!" Harry spat, getting to his feet and storming off.
When Fred and George walked into the hall five minutes later and saw the glare she was trying to set the table alight with, they did the sensible thing and walked straight out again.
Some things just aren't worth facing.
Christmas swung around faster than anyone had expected. She woke to find a small pile of presents at the foot of her bed and the sound of intense giggling coming from Lavender and Parvati.
"How long have they been at it?" She asked Fay Dunbar grumpily.
Fay sighed.
"Since six." She whispered, tugging a pillow over her head. "Some Christmas."
Laughing Hermione bundled up her presents and left the dormitory, heading for the boys' staircase. She met Harry, who was rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, halfway up and they both walked up to the sixth year boys dorm.
Lee Jordan was awake and heading out the door, which left Hermione to wake the Twins. Harry had taken one look at the unoccupied bed and collapsed onto it, curling into a ball. There was fresh snow outside, it'd fallen sometime in the night and Hermione collected as much as she could from the window sill and made it into two balls, which she lobbed at them. The Twins shrieked (although Fred would later claim they bellowed.) and sat bolt upright in bed, wiping the snow from their eyes.
"What did you do that for?" George complained.
Hermione blinked.
"When did you two start sleeping topless?"
Fred smirked.
"Does it matter?"
"What...? Er...no." She blinked again and tore her eyes away, moving over to shake Harry awake. "Presents, Harry. Wake up."
"Go 'way, Mimi."
"If you ever call me that again, I will curse you."
Hermione took her dress down to the Hufflepuff dormitories, where she, Luna and Susan were going to get ready.
"I don't think I'm very welcome here." She murmured, eyeing the other Hufflepuffs warily.
The Hufflepuffs still hadn't forgiven Harry for being Hogwarts second champion.
Susan glared at her housemates.
"Don't worry." she said loudly. "We are nice people down here."
Several fourth years began to look somewhat ashamed.
"You should have asked her," Harry pointed out, amused.
The Twins glared at him before going back to watching Hermione. They'd been beyond shocked when Hermione had walked in on the arm of Victor Krum.
"We didn't think she'd want to go with us." Fred murmured, eyes not leaving Hermione.
"We're of age in April," George explained, similarly focused. "And she's only fourteen."
"Fifteen." Harry corrected.
George stared at him.
"What?"
"Hermione. She's fifteen."
"No, she's not. Her birthday is next year."
Harry smirked.
"Her birthday was in September. I owe her five galleons." He laughed. "We bet on how long it would take you two to notice."
Fred and George went pale.
"We've never..."
"Didn't even think about it..."
"Why didn't you tell us?"
He took a long drink of butterbeer.
"She told me not to. She hates her birthday and you two kind of make a fuss about things. Seems a bit silly for you to not to know how old your girlfriend is."
"She's not our girlfriend," Fred muttered, grumpily.
"Yeah, right. You three spend all your time together, you miss each other when your gone. Can you honestly tell me, after tonight, you two don't think she's attractive? Or that you don't have a crush on her? Because I've seen you two. You scare off every boy in a five mile radius, including me and I'm her brother."
George scowled.
"You think this is the first time we've noticed?" He snapped. "We're not idiots, Harry. We know how we feel."
"Well, apparently you are. Did it ever occur to you to explain that such a thing was possible to her? She's muggleborn, remember? For Merlin's sake, you both took different girls to the Ball, leaving her with no choice."
"She was going to go with me." Luna drifted up to them, causing Harry to smile like a lovestruck fool. Luna's eyes were unusually sharp. "She's liked you for years but neither of you ever did anything about it." She shrugged. "Even soul mates can drift apart, you know."
Harry reached out to grab Fred's arm as he made to head towards her.
"Don't you dare, Fred Weasley. She's having the time of her life out there."
"Yeah, in the arms of some Bulgarian."
"In the arms of the guy who was actually brave enough to ask her."
The Twins folded their arms and scowled.
"I will not let you ruin this for her." Surprisingly it was Luna who was yelling at them, Harry standing behind her looking besotted.
"Fine. We'll wait."
Hermione was still smiling as she drifted up the stairs.
"Amazon?"
She paused halfway down the fifth-floor corridor and waited for the Twins to catch up. They marched up to her looking handsome and determined in their dark dress robes.
"Listen, Mione..."
"We need to talk."
Updated 2020